After hearing about PLNU from a friend in youth group, Lily Montes de Oca, who is graduating this winter, was immediately drawn to the university. It had everything she wanted, all rolled up in a bundle, and she has only found more opportunities to connect with others on campus.
Lily and her mom took a tour of Point Loma while she was in high school and described how as soon as she saw the cross looking over the ocean, she knew this was the place for her. From then on, everyone in her life knew that Point Loma was her dream school.
“She [Lily’s friend] was helping me through figuring out where I want to go and she mentioned Point Loma,” Lily said. “And I looked it up and it was everything I wanted in a little bundle.”
Originally from Westlake Village, California, Lily is a third year student (graduating early) currently pursuing an Environmental Studies degree and a minor in Marketing. She had never heard of an Environmental Studies major before and decided to try it out after doing more research and finding that it aligned with her core values.
Lily also described how the community-driven aspect and the small size of the major has helped her form close knit relationships with her peers.
One of the PLNU community spaces that Lily has been leading is the Surfrider Foundation chapter that she helped establish at the university. As an assignment for one of her seminar classes, a favorite of hers, she had to interview a person that currently holds a position or works in a profession that she could potentially see herself in in the future. Lily decided to interview CJ O’Brien Weddell, the manager of the Ocean Friendly Program at the Surfrider Foundation.
After initially interviewing Weddell for the assignment, Lily connected with her further to establish a chapter of the foundation at Point Loma. The chapter is just getting its start, with its first meetings being held in the Fall of 2025. Lily currently serves as the president of the chapter.
The mission of the Surfrider Foundation is to protect the ocean and beaches so that everyone has access to them; there is a central focus on environmental activism and advocacy policy at the state or even the global level. The Point Loma chapter is passionate about spreading the word to local San Diegans about the issues going on in California and around the world.
Last semester, the Surfrider chapter was able to get the Nicholson Commons cafeteria certified as an ocean-friendly dining establishment. There is a sticker proudly displayed on the door to the entrance of the cafeteria.
Another event that Lily helped organize was the 3rd annual Coastal Cleanup in which they partnered with another club to gather students and members of the community for a beach cleanup day.
“We want to help students get more involved and make opportunities for environmental awareness activities and things like that,” Lily stated.
The club has continued to grow as the school year goes on, with their three-member board expanding to eight student leaders.
Friends of Sunset Cliffs is another local environmental activism group that the Surfrider Foundation Club has connected with to help with restoration projects. The two groups were just able to kick off a big restoration project on Sunset Cliffs which involves taking out invasive plant life and planting box thorns to prevent erosion.
Before getting involved with the Surfrider Foundation, Lily was never interested in the policy aspect of Environmental Studies. However, after the last few semesters and different collaborations with environmental organizations, Lily described how she sees herself being a good fit for a position in policy.
“In the last few semesters, I realized this is what I feel good doing and feel educated about,” Lily said. “I’ll give a presentation in a sustainability class and I just find myself going off about the policy for five minutes. So that’s been helping me, finding my niche.”
At the professional level, Lily has expressed that she could see herself in an environmental or sustainability management position, similar to CJ Weddell, who Lily connected with to start the club. She described how she would like to try to combine advocacy, policy work, and community outreach.
During the spring of her sophomore year, Lily was able to intern for the Admissions department at PLNU, and she has also been on the Preview Day Planning Committee for the last year. Through these positions, she has been able to gain experience in advertising and event management which has been helpful for the outreach aspect of her Surfrider responsibilities.
We want to help students get more involved and make opportunities for environmental awareness activities and things like that.
“It’s been really helpful to build myself professionally, and I think marketing is such a widely needed thing,” Lily said. “So that has been really beneficial for me.”
As a follower of Christ, Lily described her passion for the environment as something that every Christian should feel. Environmental stewardship for Lily is one of the most important roles that God gave to humans when he created them. Caring about the environment helps Lily live more like Jesus and spread His love to others.
Lily commended Point Loma for its commitment to environmental advocacy and sustainability. She feels that the way the school connects with others and spreads the calling to serve the natural world in every profession is so valuable. She also wants to give a shoutout to Dr. Breeann Kirby who has inspired her journey at Point Loma.
